In this Issue

A Brief History of Fats

Muscle and Fat

Howard Scott Wheeler

 

A Brief History of Fats

Prior to the late 1900's eating meals high in saturated fats was considered a luxury because these fats are naturally derived from animal sources, and only the wealthy could afford to eat meat, or use milk, cheese or butter, on a routine basis. The average person would only consume most of these goods on festive occasions a few times a year.

BUT, late in the 19th century, industrial chemistry developed techniques that had the ability to isolate gases, and after isolating the hydrogen ion, and applying this technique to oils, man discovered a way to convert cheap oils even from vegetable sources into saturated fats.

Saturated fats are excellent oils to combine with doughs to make sweet treats, they are stable at high temperatures, so are good for cooking foods, but most important is the fact that saturated fats cook things FAST. Many people think that the 'Fast Food Industry' is an ancient technique, but in fact, it is as recent as the middle of the 20th Century! AND because these fats can be made from cheap vegetable sources such as corn or soybeans, it is affordable and plentiful for everyone, all the time.

Now that travel, transportation and communication is an everyday event, and Fast Food Businesses are virtually on every comer in every town, it is affecting our health. When man only consumed smaller quantities of natural sources of saturated fats with limited rich carbohydrates, and when we were much more active with our daily activities, we did not have problems with saturated fats.

 

Muscle and Fat

Did you know that breast milk of ALL mammals including human milk is more than 50% saturated fats? If saturated fats was not of positive benefit for humans, it would have been eliminated many eons ago from our genetic make up. Think about this!

In the early 1960's scientist decided to declare saturated fats an evil that man must avoid 'at all costs', and that 'Cholesterol' was the 'devil' as far as our health is concerned. But what most people do not know is that this declaration was not made based on true scientific studies, but was based solely on observation and epidemiological studies This is NOT true science, it has never been proven, and in fact, about 5 years ago, true scientific studies proved that it is impossible for dietary cholesterol to affect serum cholesterol because of the way it is absorbed and metabolized in most people. There are a few people who lack the genetic ability to metabolize cholesterol normally, but they are in the vast minority of people on this planet, and most medical providers are not screening with the proper tests to check for this abnormality.

When medicine is dealing with an issue as important as this, we need to make sure that we are giving people accurate information because failure to do so will result in loss of health and life.

The greater dietary culprits are starches and refined carbohydrates, because these nutrients ultimately lead to increase triglyceride formation, and excessive triglycerides are stored in our adipocytes, which make us FAT. Not all carbohydrates are culprits, and in fact, complex carbs such as fresh vegetables (not corn, peas, potatoes and most legumes) and fresh fruit (not fruit juice, grapes, or very sweet melons) are very good and healthy for us.

Next, Howard Scott Wheeler has a story to share with you. Read about what he has done. Just by changing a few simple things in his life, he has drastically altered his health and his quality of life. It would be my privilege to help you the way I helped Scott. Just call my office at: 775-751-2100 for an appointment.

by Joan S. Leaks, MD

 

 

Howard Scott Wheeler

"I got tired of being tired", said Scott Wheeler to Dr. Joan Leaks on Monday, January 12, 2009. "I have 2 beautiful granddaughters and I want to be around to see them grow up. I have not been able to sleep lying down for three years. I have trouble driving my truck, and have the seat pushed back as far as it can go. I get tired just walking from the house to the mailbox, and that is only a few feet away. I used to be able to work around the house and yard, but I am just too tired to do it. I don't want to feel like this anymore, and I need your help."

When I initially saw Scott Wheeler, I was impressed with his desire to actively do things to change his life. He was willing to do everything I recommended, including journaling his food, water and exercise activities. I explained to him on his first day that he has a chronic disease that needs to be treated just like other chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension or arthritis, and that he would need to see me or someone like me for the rest of his life.

 

Howard Scott Wheeler on January 12, 2009: 5 feet 6 and 1/2 inches tall and 427.5 pounds.

Initially, I saw Scott weekly, and he was faithful with his personally designed life style changing program. I told Scott that everyone needs to have individualized eating and exercise programs based on their personal, family and social history. There is no 'one size fits all' when a persons life is involved. There is no room for error when designing a program that affects a persons life, but there may need to be adjustments from time to time.

Scott's chronic medical conditions included Sleep Apnea and he was using C-PAP which is a machine to help him get night time oxygen; High Blood Pressure and he was on 4 different medications for this. High Cholesterol, Degenerative Arthritis and Gout. His first month program included using a pedometer and walking 400 steps a day. The first week, he averaged 450 steps a day, and by the end of the month, he was averaging 1,000 steps a day.

Scott loved milk and was drinking about 1 gallon of milk daily and about one glass of water a day. By the end of the first month, Scott was drinking a gallon of water or more a day, and a glass of milk a week. To his great surprise, he realized that he really likes Water!

It was fairly easy for Scott to change his dietary habits because he was given a list of foods that he could have, and there were plenty of choices for him that were healthy, and that he liked.

Scott occasionally took a low dose appetite suppresser for about 2 months, and has been taking Multivitamins and Minerals that Dr. Leaks retails. He feels fantastic and wants everyone to know it!

On Thursday, December 3, 2009, Howard Scott Wheeler no longer had hypertension and had not been on medication for 2 months, is able to sleep lying down all night, walks 5 to 6 MILES a day AND he had lost 150 pounds!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Disclaimer

Use of this Newsletter

The information in this newsletter is provided as general health guidelines and may not be applicable to your particular health condition. Your individual health status and any required medical treatments can only be properly addressed by a professional healthcare provider of your choice.

Remember: There is no adequate substitution for a personal consultation with your doctor!

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